Pulled Pork Time

[bigben5054]

Need a little help.  Put two 9# butts in my model 2 yesterday at 2:00pm.  Having a party today at 2:00pm, figured 24 hours would be plenty of time.  Right now (10:00am) only at 160 temp and worried it will not climb another 35-40 degrees in the 4 hours I have left.  Thermo set at 225 until about an hour ago I cranked it to 250.  Worried about nothing?  Or should I be doing something to speed this up?  Take it out, wrap in foil and put it back in?  Thanks and Happy New Year!.

 

[cogGrease]

I think you'll be fine in another four hours @ 250℉, and I'm sure your guests wouldn't mind a small wait if it needs a little more time. If you have an auber, kick it up to 260-270. You could try and relocate the probes, just to make sure they're not hitting a bone?  Good luck!

 

[nvw-ssv]

Wouldn't a probe near a bone make the probe read too-high?  That's what I've seen, but would like a little advice on probe placement on butts, as well

 

[swthorpe]

Yes, try to avoid contacting the bone when placing your probe in the butt.  I try to aim for the largest part of the meat mass, but again, not touching the bone.

 

[SuperDave]

Is 160 the top or bottom butt?  There will be a measurable difference between the 2.  At 160, you don't really know where you are in the stall.  I'd wrap with some fluid like apple juice and put back in at 250/260.  Ideal, no, but actually being able to eat takes priority. 

 

[Paul Case Luca]

Foil it. If need be go to oven at 275. Foil will speed the stall.

FYI I ALWAYS need 2 hours per pound. Don't know why... That's just how it is for me... So 36 hours might be what you need at such a low temp.

 

[bigben5054]

Is 160 the top or bottom butt?  There will be a measurable difference between the 2.  At 160, you don't really know where you are in the stall.  I'd wrap with some fluid like apple juice and put back in at 250/260.  Ideal, no, but actually being able to eat takes priority.

thanks Dave.  that was the top one.  Now up to 172.  I switched the probe to the bottom one and it is 191...so yes, big difference!  At least we know one of the butts will be ready to serve and the other shouldn't be too far behind.  Maybe I will switch places in the smoker now.  Thanks again!

 

[Paul Case Luca]

You're set!

Maybe next time try to keep the butts on the same rack?

 

[SconnieQ]

Having the probe too close to the bone will cause a reading higher than the actual meat temperature. In a situation where someone is concerned that their butts will not be quite done in time, I don't see a problem with double wrapping in foil, adding a tiny amount of liquid inside (water or apple juice) and finishing in the oven at a higher temp than the stock SI controller is capable of. At that point, they have absorbed all of the smoke they are going to, and it is just a matter of getting them through the stall, and making them tender.